🤯 These Clubs Are Illegal To Carry

Good morning. While there seems to be no end to the LIV-PGA saga, let’s dive into who made how much in each of these leagues. And staying with the same theme, Tiger Woods made quite the money in 2023 despite not playing much - check out his earnings in one of our top stories today. That, and more details on the golf clubs that will be illegal to carry starting January 1, 2024.

And much more, in this edition of the Golf Reporter…

So, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and let's get ready to explore everything golf.

⛳ This day in history: On this date, in 1946, Hubert Green was born in Alabama. During his illustrious professional career, Green won 19 PGA Tour events including two major championships: the 1977 U.S. Open and the 1985 PGA Championship. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007.

ALBATROS
PGA vs LIV - Prize Money Comparison

Money reigns supreme - is there a better way to define the PGA Tour vs LIV Golf debate? It's still uncertain if the tours will eventually merge but one thing is for sure - it's the 'money' which will have the biggest say. Let us explore the monetary division between PGA and LIV in 2023.

The PGA Tour gave out over $560 million in prize money this year. That includes $100 million for the Player Impact Program and $75 million for the Tour Championship. PIP is for the top 20 players, so most of them got the most money.

LIV’s total prize purse rose to $405 million in 2023. That included $115 million in team prize money as well as $30 million for the top three in the individual points race.

PGA Tour's Viktor Hovland made more money than anyone else. He bagged about $37.1 million for his performances. On the LIV side, Talor Gooch was the top earner, pocketing about $36 million for his performances on the rebel tour.

The highest earners on LIV this year were Gooch, Cameron Smith ($23.2 million), Brooks Koepka ($17.7 million), Bryson DeChambeau ($14.7 million), and Harold Varner III ($9.9 million).

Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour, the top earners were Rory McIlroy with $32.9 million, followed by Scottie Scheffler with $29 million, Jon Rahm with $26.2 million, and Xander Schauffele with $17.9 million, with Viktor Hovland leading the list.

TWEET
Worth Mentioning

EAGLE
Tiger Woods’ 2023 Earnings Breakdown

2023 has been nothing short of dramatic for Tiger Woods. After playing only one official event in the 2023 season and opting for recovery for the majority of it, Woods’s earnings for 2023 was never going to be in the millions. So, how much did Woods make last season - let's explore.

Woods made his return to the game of golf at the PNC Championship in 2022 alongside his son Charlie Woods. He earned $59,560 from the tournament. Woods then went on to earn $130,000 from the Hero World Challenge. At the PNC Championship in 2023, Team Woods was T5 as they scored 19 under 125. The team acquired $47,000, from which Woods’s cut can estimated to be $23,500.

Woods stayed in the news despite not playing actively and hence remained one of the top two influential golfers on the PGA Tour. As a result of the PGA Tour's Player Impact Program, Woods earned $12 million in the form of bonus earnings. Hence, prize purse for Woods’s 2023 season boosts up to $12,213,060.

LOCKER ROOM
What else is making news

Sentry Tournament of Champions: Rory Mcilroy is set to skip the opening event of the 2024 PGA Tour season. Mcilroy is currently preparing for the Dubai International and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic to be played in the UAE.

LIV-PGA merger: PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan could receive the most benefits if the LIV-PGA merger goes through. Monahan will receive an actuarial estimate of $7.4 million if he manages to bring in PIF as the new investor. The deadline for the merger to go through is December 31.

Ernie Els: Former World No.1 Ernie Els is 'against' the LIV-PGA merger. He believes that the merger will affect the professional golfers' lives and decisions shouldn't be 'imposed' on them.

BIRDIE
These Clubs Will Be ‘Illegal’ To Carry From 2024

Starting from January 1, 2024, the long-awaited 2010 groove rule is finally being put into effect. It concerns conformity of grooves in clubs manufactured before 2010, potentially flagging them as illegal under the new regulation.

This rule specifically outlines the size and shape criteria for grooves on various golf clubs, encompassing irons, wedges, hybrids, and even fairway woods with lofts of 25 degrees or higher.

This regulation impacts all golfers aiming to maintain an accurate handicap and participate in club competitions following USGA/R&A guidelines. Utilizing clubs made before 2010, notably wedges, might significantly reduce their performance, making an upgrade advisable.

However, even if a player opts for older clubs, there remains a risk of disqualification if a competitor notices the use of non-conforming equipment during a game.

DRIVING RANGE
How To Find Your Ideal Wedge And Sole Grind

This video will help you understand more about the different wedge grinds and who they are ideally suited for. It can help you make a smarter purchasing decision the next time you are in the market for wedges.